VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

On the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Taj Diplomatic Enclave Hotel, New Delhi, India, Thursday, January 25, 2018.

In the meeting, President Jokowi conveyed the importance of efforts to increase economic cooperation because bilateral trade between the two countries actually have began to grow since last year but still far from its real potential.

"Therefore, efforts to increase trade should be continuously done including eliminating trade barriers," said the President.

Another thing that was conveyed by President Jokowi is the high tariff increase on vegetables oil to India.

An increase in palm oil tariff will affect Indonesia's palm oil exports. "If Indonesia's palm oil exports are dwindling, I believe it will also affect the fulfillment of the growing Indian market," he said.

Therefore, President Jokowi hopes the Indian government  reconsider tariff policy on vegetables oil.

 

As for the architecture of the Indo-Pacific region, President Jokowi wants to invite key countries in the region to discuss the concept of Indo Pacific.

 

"My advice, this concept is developed based on openness, inclusive, based on the spirit of cooperation," said President Jokowi.

 

As a very active country in IORA, President Jokowi believes PM Modi will agree to strengthen the IORA. "So that the Indian Ocean Circle can be a stable and prosperous area," said President Jokowi.

 

President Jokowi also appreciated India's support for the ASEAN-led Mechanism including the East Asia Summit (EAS).

 

"Indonesia has proposed the start of maritime cooperation in the EAS which is also supported by India," said President Jokowi.

 

Therefore in the future, maritime cooperation will be one of the priorities of cooperation between the two countries.

Meanwhile, at the beginning of the meeting, President Jokowi said that the bilateral relations between Indonesia and India are getting stronger, especially since President Jokowi's meeting with PM Modi in December 2016 in India.

"To maintain the momentum of this close cooperation, I invite Your Honor to visit Indonesia this year," said President Jokowi.

Indonesian, President Jokowi invites PM Modi to Indonesia to discuss bilateral cooperation in detail.

Also present were the President, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Special Staff Coordinator of President Teten Masduki and Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Sidharto Suryodipuro. (Release Protocol, Press and Media Sector Secretariat of the President)